Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-02-17
IN THE MIDDLE WEST
A Story Of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALVA MILTON KERR.
lCorYRIGnr, 1884 ny THE A. N KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER COMrANY.l
CHATTER Xv.-corrrNrrn.

CHAPTER Xv.-CoNrtNuEn
John Earling talked on with the
young girl for half an hour. feeling
the charm OF her person stealing upon
his senses like the spirit OF some dark
and lovely picture. Her mind did not
MI him with an equal pleasure, for it
seemed something like a spring, John
Earling thought, with certain little in
scrutable depths, but in the main. with
its bottom open 20 the eye. Several
sentences she let fall during tho con-
versaiion made him look at hcr in a
curious way. but he saw that what
seemed wcll-nigh indicate in her
words came only of her innocence; for
ia some directions she seemed almost
fatally ignorant; this, through her
motherless education, and hcr fathers
iron care that only things of the most
delicate Kind should ever come into her
horizon.
Once she got up and crossed the
room to adjust n window-curtain, that
moru Of the slow summer twilight might
ontcri and John Earring marked, almost
with thrill, her gliding, willowy mo-
tion, and he leaned forward uncon-
sciously when she came toward him
again through the shadow with her
long dusky eyes upon his face A mo-
ment after that bell tinkied in the
room back of the one in which they
were sitting, and again John Farling
watched the young girl cross the room
and brush back two long curtains OF
rich plush embroidered with flower
and vines in silk. disclosing snowy
tea-table in the adjoining room, glcam-
ing under the white globes of grace
ful chandelier. Then she stepped
across the hall and called her father
who came pack with her, having his
grizzly head well brushed and seeming
moro presentablc than John Earring
had ever seen him.
When they were seated at the white
board the housekecper, mild-faccd
elderly lady, brought in large porce-
line pot o steaming tea, and after
bowling demurrly went out. Maun did
the honors of the table a little bashful-
". not saying much as she lifted her
slumberous eyes about, and John Earl
ing somehow caught himself fancying
more than once how those slow-mov-
ing orbs might scintillate aud flame
with rage. But she seemed very gem
tie. and only that something indelin-
able suggested it, he would not have
been visited by thought so unseemly.
At first the conversation seemed q
little strained, but in a moment the old
lawyer brushed aside a lingering wisp
of trouble that seemed to lie across his
thoughts. and talked on in his graphic
jerky fashion of his travels and Incl
dents OF life upon the Western slope.
Presently the conversation turned back
10 Openstone, and Harry Whitney's
long absence was touched upon.
"Ile sometimes writes 10 me" SAID
John Earling. ''lle seems 10 find hi.
surroundings very agreeable at least
/ can not entirely make him out.
am afraid that he is no more in earnest
there than he was here. He has q dea
10 say in his letters about boating
sometimes something about art. and
throws in occasionally scrap or two O.
Greek or Latin"
II presume he will be n great gen
leman when he returns, said Maun.
Eyes. and his father will fall Gus,
in the minute he sets eyes on him
has dropped into profanity seyea
times 10 my knowledge since the bo,
went AWAY, on account Of the none,
he has had to furnish him, and he ain
liable to u on his neck and weep
power OF water down the young chap
back, or assa,sinate sight Of veal
when he does return. That JOcrs bo,
should turn out triple-platcd daud,
would be too anomalous. lie couldn't
stand il. Joel wound rs lief be huns
mp by the eyolids in purgatory as to
have such a son,
The young folks laughed. They
were forced 10 IL ever and anon b,
the old lawyer'0 ridiculous illustra
tions. He did not cat much, but tho
food which he put in his mouth he ate
quickly, ss II impatient to get it out
his way.
=. understand that this callow Ills
Is coming home in September he
went ON, 'and that joel and Mrs
Whitney arc going TO dedicate thei
now house. celebrate his twenty-irs
birthday. and commemorate his T. turn
In a grand hnabri iged blow out; sor.
OF divine Titanic bplurge, whose iniu-
cnco shall heuccforth rumam potent
and ubiquitous Congressional force.
The old man laughed al this himself
not so much evidently for the manne'
In which he spilled the sentences from
his lips rs for Joel's ambition.
"Do yoI Ike Mr. Whiiney's house?'
said Maun to John Earling
Not SO well as this or Mr. Bowers.
said he. 81 particularly admire Judg,
Bowers home for the reason that Il
stands well back from the street out OF
The dust, ghd has 20 many lne tree
and good lawn
"lcs. like it," said the girl, sin.
Fly. Then with light laugh: Pa O.
Scry angry with Mr. Whlneys."
"Gewgaggory.' grnntei the ole
nian. nni was silent.
When they had gotten up from lea.
ihc old lawyer led John Earring acros
mo hall to show him his relies, hi
said. Here WAS long front room
with 4 aemnllcr one back; both bnre
oarfet aud d.haying walls aud ceiling
of dan tan-color from smoke som
r,d.lasbionod wooden and spinl bot
iO,nrd chairs Wcro scattered about
and Ia IA hpck room was an oxcocd
iael, harl and uncomfortable iookia,
hll. viii the great, shaggy head 0i q